Hyderabad: It was a celestial bliss for sky gazers. Wednesday witnessed a combination of ‘Super blue blood moon’ and total lunar eclipse.
The bigger, brighter and closer full moon was first visible at 6.36 pm, though the time forecast was 6.05 pm.
Hundreds gathered at observatory laboratories set up at Chandrayangutta, Tank Bund and Mahindra Hills to have a glimpse the celestial event.
Akit Sharma from Sindhi Colony said, “I saw the moon at 6.15 pm but a part of it looked sliced off. It wasn’t full moon. Slowly it moved out of the shadow and turned blood red, and complete.”
Many residents took to social media to share pictures of different phases of the lunar eclipse. On the other hand, sentiments connected with total lunar eclipse were also observed.
Gayatri Devi of Bolarum said, “We are told not to venture out during the activity. Pregnant women especially should remain indoors. Family members were asked to return home early. Also, many businesses downed shutters for the day even before the eclipse started.”
Expert said, “Phases of the total lunar eclipse began at 5.18 pm. Northern and Eastern states were the first to see the start of the eclipse.”
- People had the chance to witness a rare “super blue blood Moon” when Earth's shadow bathed the celestial body in a coppery hue.
- The celestial show is the result of the sun, Earth, and Moon lining up perfectly for a lunar eclipse just as the Moon is near its closest orbit point to Earth, making it appear “super” large.
- It is the second full Moon within the same month, a phenomenon called a “blue” Moon which has nothing to do with its colour.
- The “blood” in the name comes from the reddish brown color the Moon takes on when Earth enters between it and the sun, cutting off the light rays that usually brighten the lunar surface.
- Stargazers in North America, Hawaii, the Middle East, Russia and Australia apart from India could witess the rare phenomenon.
- Thousands gathered at observatories in many places along the path of the eclipse. Nasa and other organisations set up live-streaming of the eclipse.
- The last “super blue blood moon” occurred on December 30, 1982, when it was seen in Europe, Africa and western Asia. For North America, the last time was in 1866.
- The next blue moon total lunar eclipse will happen on December 31, 2028, though it won't be quite as large since it will not be as close to Earth.
- Another will occur on January 31, 2037.
